CONWAY, AR – Pitcher Reece Cross allowed Sam Houston State only three hits and Jordan Getchell, Beau Green and Jon Yerby each hit home runs to lead Central Arkansas to an 8-2 victory over the Bearkats in a Southland Conference baseball game Saturday afternoon.

Geren’s three-run homer in the third inning plus an RBI double by Getchell put UCA up 4-0 and the Bears never trailed. The victory evened the UCA-SHSU Southland series at one victory apiece. The pair will meet in the third and final game of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.

 Braeden Riley led off the first inning with a hit but Cross did not give up another hit until the seventh inning.

Nick Zaleski doubled to start the seventh and scored the Kats’ first run on an error. Adam DeLaGarza added the second run on a solo home run in the eighth inning. Mark Wyatt had the only other hit for Sam Houston with a single in the seventh inning.

Sam Houston dropped to 30-21 for the season and 16-13 in Southland action with the loss. Jacob Howard (4-4) took the loss, giving up four unearned runs and three hits in three innings. Dallas Gallant pitched five innings in relief and Justin Jackson threw in the ninth inning.